Sunday Oliseh calls Arsenal youngster Iwobi

After choosing to play for Nigeria over the country where he was born and raise, Arsenal youth star Alex Iwobi has been given his first call-up to the Super Eagles.

After failing to convince Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe to play for Nigeria, Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, on Wednesday invited Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi for Nigeria’s friendly games against the Leopards of DR Congo on October 8 and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on October 11.

World football-governing body, FIFA, has clarified that the 19-year-old can dorn Nigeria’s colour without further ado as he did not feature for England in an official game.

He is the nephew of former Nigeria star Jay-Jay Okocha and has permanent Nigerian citizenship.

Iwobi has developed very well at club level over the past year, having progressed from being a fringe player for Arsenal’s U21 side to being on the periphery of the senior set-up.

“‘My dad too has told me a lot of things about the honour and pride that goes with playing for Nigeria“, Daily Mail quoted him as speaking about choosing to play for Nigeria.

Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh has revealed that Manchester City prodigy, Kelechi Iheanacho “will get his time” to play for the Super Eagles.

“Everybody will get his chance to showcase what they can offer the team but we the coaches will invite them at the right time so they don’t perform below what we expect”.